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(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. H. W. WOODRUFP. PORTABLE SAFE FOR VALUABLESN0. 363,714. Patented May 24, 1887.

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(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. W. WOODRUFP. PORTABLE SAFE FOR VALUABLESNo. 363,714. Patented May 24, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE XV. WOODRUFF, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THEYVOODRUFF PORTABLE SAFE COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE SAFE FOR VALUABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,714, dated May 24,1887.

Application filed Sepembcr 27, 1886. Serial No. 214,588. iModel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Honnon W. WooDRUFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Safes forValuables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this IO specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in portable safes fortransmitting money or other valuables, and is intended more especiallyfor the use of banks and express companies in shipping money, and is soconstructed that the money is packed perfectly secure, and at the sametime the express company, or any party through whose hands the parcelmay pass, may know, without opening it, the contents.

It consists of a box made of metal, leather, or any suitable material,provided with acom' bination-lock, and an opening or window so arrangedas to expose the contents to view without exposing them to loss orinjury.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the safe.Fig. 2 is a crosssection through the line x w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail end elevation showing the locking mechanism. Fig. i is acorresponding sec- 0 tional view through the axis of the lockingmechanism. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section in plan through thelocking mechan ism. Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical cross-sections showingtheinternal construction and arrange- 3 5 ment of the tumblers. Fig. 8is aside elevation of the safe, showing the grating.

The same letters of reference are used to in dicate identical parts inall the figures.

In the drawings the safe is shown as made of 0 sheet metal; but leatheror any other suitable material which combines lightness and strength maybe used.

I prefer to make the safe in two parts, as shown, one fitting within theother and locked 4 5 together, the outer casing, A, being made open atthe top, and the inner casing, B, which fits down into the outer, openat the bottom. The inner casing fitting snugly within the outer box orcasing, A, is provided with an opening,

her box, so as to leave the glass or barred window unobstructed. Whenone of the cases has been filled, one is fitted within the other,securely incasing the contents, but exposing them to view through theglass C, and the two 6 5 are securely locked together.

To illustrate the manner of locking the safe, I have shown one form ofcombination-lock adapted to the purpose, but do not limit myself to anyparticular form of lock. The lock illustrated consists of two forkedpieces of metal, E F, the prongs of one fitting within the prongs of theother. One prong, G, of the fork E is a hollow cylinder to receive theprong H of the other, and the two form a bolt which extends through boththe outer and inner casing, fastening them securely together. The otherprong, I, of the fork E consists of a hollow tube provided wit-h alongitudinal slot. Rotating on this tube are a number of loose tumblers,z. These tumblers are provided with one or more slots, J, correspondingin size with the slot in the tube I. The prongK of the fork F isprovided with teeth L. Each tumbler has a circular internal opening, 0,of 85 a width to admit freely the teeth L, so that when the prong K isinserted in the tube I the teeth L pass through the slot in the tube andthe slot J in the tumblers until they come opposite the circularopeningsO in the tumblers. The tumblers are then turned on the tube, andthe prong K cannot then be withdrawn until they are all again turned, sothat their slots all come in line with the slot in the tube and theteeth L. The tumblers are provided with figures to indicate the positionof the slot, and when these figures are in line, so as to bring theirslots over the slot in the tube, the teeth can pass. These figures forma certain number which constitutes the key or combination. If at anytime it is necessary to change the k eynumber or combination, thetumblers can be taken off and replaced in a different order, thusforming a new key-number, and for that purpose they are put loosely onthe tube 1. Each tumbler has figures on its surface from 1 to 9, onlyone of which, however, is used as an indicator or part of thekey-number, the oth ers being used merely as a blind to make it moredifficult to guess the combination. WVhen the safe is thus locked, itmay be delivered to an express company for transportation, andthekey-number transmitted to the consignee of the safe by mah, or in anyother way, and the safe can only be opened by one having the key-number.The express company can, however, learn the contents of the safe withoutopening it, and know that it is transmitting money-or the valuablesclaimed. The consignee can also know without opening the safe whether itcontains the article it should contain, audif it does not can decline toreceive it.

Where money is shipped by banks, it can be arran ed in small parcels,with narrow strips of paper around them, showing the amount in eachparcel and the signature or seal of an officer of the bank through theglass. By the use of my improved portable safe the express company andreceiver do not have to open the package in order to know its contents.Money or valuables can be shipped with convenience and safety securelylocked,and in case the safe is tampered with the guilty party can bereadily detected, as any loss or alteration of its contents would be atonce apparent to any one of the many persons who usually handle suchpackages between the place of shipment and the destination.

For the purpose of more effectually protecting the glass or transparentopening, the outer casing may be provided with a wire or steel grating,as shown in Fig. 8, Where the outer casing, A, is provided with bars P,extending across the opening, so that the glass 0 is protected from anyblow from the outside.

No claim is herein made to the lock per 86, as it forms thesubject-matter of a separate application filed by me January 28, 1887,and numbered 225,755.

In another application for Letters Patent filed by me on the 9th day ofFebruary, 1887, Serial No. 227,031, I have shown, described, and claimedmodified constructions of the shipping-case forming the subject-matterof this application; and I have also shown, described, and claimed othermeans for securing the case, which answer the same purpose as thelocking mechanism specified in this application.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim-- 1. A portable safefor transmitting money or valuables, provided with a secure transparentopening through which its contents are visible, and a lock which canonly be opened by one acquainted with the keymumber or combination,substantially as described.

2. A portable safe for transmitting money or other valuables,constructed in two parts, one fitting within the other and securelylocked together, and having a certain part transparent for the purposeof making the contents visible, substantially as described.

3. In aportable safe for transmitting money, constructed with atransparent part for exposing the contents, said transparent portionbeing protected by an outer grating,substantiall y as described.

HORACE \V. WVOODRUFF.

WVitnesses:

WM. H. WILLIAMSON, EDWARD W. REo'roR.

